You may or may not have noticed the growing number of articles about Post-Menstrual Syndrome on the interwebs. And as we like to keep you informed about the latest, greatest, and what-the-whatest in the world of hormones, it’s time we talked about it. Welcome to the world of the other PMS…
Post-Menstrual Syndrome: What is it?
Now, before we go any further, we absolutely have to mention one very important fact. And it’s this: There is no official diagnosis of Post-Menstrual Syndrome. Nor is there any scientific or academic research to support it. In fact, the only evidence that exists is anecdotal, that is, it comes from patients self-reporting symptoms and causation.
That doesn’t mean that what you experience isn’t real, but it does mean that you won’t see many medical types talking about, or recognizing Post-Menstrual Syndrome. Because until it’s recognized by medicine, for all intents and purposes, the diagnosis doesn’t exist.
According to some media outlets, these symptoms are relatively new to medicine, which could explain the lag. But unless it’s happening to you on a regular basis, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of it.
As the name may well imply, ‘Post-Menstrual Syndrome’ appears almost as a reverse Premenstrual Syndrome. That is, after your period, rather than before. And it’s an umbrella term women use for the cluster of symptoms they experience after bleeding has ended.
What are the symptoms?
Regular PMS can be a heady mix of any number of physical and emotional symptoms, but almost always with some from both categories. But for those talking about Post-Menstrual Syndrome symptoms tend toward the emotional spectrum.
Symptoms commonly described as part of the other PMS include:
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Tearfulness
- Painful sex
- Headaches
- Joint pain
Post-Menstrual Syndrome: What causes it?
As there’s no official diagnosis for it, there’s currently no way to know what the possible causes might be. That said, there are some theories, and they mostly involve, you guessed it, hormones.
In a similar fashion to regular PMS, post-period symptoms may well be down to the hormonal fluctuations of a menstrual cycle, particularly if there’s an imbalance somewhere. Which brings us neatly to underlying conditions. There are some theories that the ‘other PMS’ may be tied to underlying conditions like PMDD, PCOS, or even insulin-related issues.
Stress could also play a role, as well as your general reaction to your period. For instance, if you bleed heavily, feeling fatigued after it’s over could be down to lower iron levels, rather than Post-Menstrual Syndrome.
Sounds familiar. What should I do?
If you’re experiencing any symptoms post or even pre-period, there are some things you can do to help your healthcare types work out what’s going on.
- Track your symptoms and cycle using the Hormona app. Yes, it’s a shameless plug, but we really can help you do that, because hormone issues are all about repeated symptoms. So if something only happens once or twice, it’s less likely to be related to your cycle or hormonal fluctuations.
- Rule out any underlying conditions. Take all your tracking data with you when you see the doctor, and discuss the possibility of issues like PCOS, if only to make sure that your symptoms aren’t connected.
- Take care of yourself. That means good nutrition, good quality sleep, and moving around a little more.
- Talk to us in the community. Let us know how you’re getting on — and then we can all start to work out exactly what’s going on with Post-Menstrual Syndrome.
Post-Menstrual Syndrome: TLDR
Experiencing symptoms akin to PMS after your period has ended is considered pretty rare. And that’s partly why, according to the official literature Post-Menstrual Syndrome isn’t a thing. That doesn’t mean that what you’re experiencing isn’t real, though, as medicine can take a while to catch up.
But, it’s also highly likely that any symptoms you’re seeing are related to underlying conditions, medications, or even stress, and the timing of your post-menstrual symptoms is coincidental. But time and research will help us all figure this out!
The important thing to remember is this: if you regularly experience symptoms after your period, make sure you’re tracking them and your cycle. Then have a chat with your doctor, as they’re best placed to rule out any underlying issues that might be contributing. And finally, take care of yourself, particularly if you’re stressed, overworked, or overtired. We know, that’s basically everyone. So do yourself a solid and look after you.
